Just after few months ,the whole fleet of Armidale Class Patrol
Boats
has to be docked again!
Similar restrictions (OPERATIONAL RESTRICTIONS)were
introduced in September 2006 and the ships were
returned to operational service in October 2006 following extensive
checks of the fuel systems in all ships of the class.
Despite an extensive investigation into the likely cause and
redesign of engineering controls, continued water contamination in
the main engine fuel system has led to pump failures, hence the
implementation of further restrictions by the Maritime
Commander.
---http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6333,30.JAN.2007.Defence
Media Liaison
Again ,Aussie navy ship is hitted by fuel contamination.Worst,''a
repeat of the circumstances that led to four deaths on HMAS
Westralia in 1998''.
Why ?This is a system failure inside Aussie
Navy?Corruption?Incapable?
What is so complicated to check quality of fuel?
4 deaths still can not remind them to do a proper job.
1'Dad's navy' fills in for faulty ships, Mark
Dodd.February 03, 2007
....AN urgent recall of the $550million fleet of new
Armidale-class patrol boats because of recurring fuel contamination
problems has forced the deployment of a "Dad's navy" flotilla to
secure the vulnerable Top End.
All seven commissioned Armidale patrol craft, designed and
constructed by West Australian shipbuilder Austal, are now tied up
in Darwin because of fears that the fuel pumps could cause a
catastrophic engine-room fire.
Marine engineers told The Weekend Australian the pump on
HMAS Armidale had cracked as a result of fuel contamination,
spewing an explosive fuel mix into the vessel's confined
engine-room space, a repeat of the circumstances that led to four
deaths on HMAS Westralia in1998....
Patrol fleet docked over defect, Mark Dodd, February
02, 2007
2.I wonder if this happen in SG ,causing navy ships docked,
how many heads will be chopped.
Armidale Class Patrol Boats
SEA 1444 - Armidale Class Patrol Boat
added 05 Feb 2007
Oil tanker ,which replace the navy tanker of 4 deaths,is still
fail
in fire safety rules and speed only 16
knots!!
Auditors hit defence body over ship defects,Sarah
Smiles, Canberra,February 5, 2007
...Inspectors did not see visible escape signs or first-aid
equipment on board.....
Yet the audit office report suggests that the procurement process
was rushed and as a result the new ship is no more capable than the
Westralia in terms of speed.
With a maximum speed of 16 knots, the Westralia was unable to
provide oil and water to fleets operating at higher speeds. Defence
officials viewed a target speed of 18 knots as optimal.
Yet it was replaced with a commercial ship capable of only 15 to 16
knot speeds, after the DMO revised its initial budget
downwards.